Show me the path where I should walk, O Lord
To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul. I trust in You, my God! Show me the path where I should walk, O Lord Point out the right road for me to follow. Lead me by your truth and teach me for You are the God who saves me. All day long I put my hope in You. Remember O Lord your unfailing love and compassion which you have shown from long ages past. Forgive the rebellious sins of my youth…Archive for fatherhood
change in construction project plans…
Quite awhile back I talked about expanding my kids’ clubhouse… which didn’t work out that way. Initally I changed plans to build a separate treehouse, but then it became too big.
So, a few weeks back I decided to just make a small one and a friend provided some leftover wood… and here’s the result:
It was quite a bit of fun building!
through the calm…
Before we got all this snow, it had been a pretty quiet weekend – it was dreary and wet. We went out a bit before it got wet. My oldest daughter was sick with the flu. We even had to keep the kids separated a bit because of it. I didn’t leave the house once, even though I really wanted to. But couldn’t. It didn’t feel like a storm or anything just a quiet calm. A little frustrating at times but we still had our fun moments playing games, puzzles, watching movies, and what-not.
I was really looking forward to going to work if for nothing else just to get out! I was all dressed for work and then Isa comes in to announce that I have no work either! Honestly I was a little disappointed which is kind-of messed up you know. ANother day to play and here I am disappointed about it? Several inches of snow outside and here I am moping around? Well yeah – that was how I felt to be honest. But later after probably the third trip I decided to stop doing things outside and just sit down and enjoy it. If you know me well, you know that I don’t usually do that – I’m just too busy to sit and relax and enjoy… And then I realized, this day was what I needed. It isn’t about being busy and going to work or going somewhere but stopping and enoying what is right there in front of me.
I hadn’t thought about it again until this morning when I heard the song “You Never Let Go” … in particular the “you never let go… through the calm and through the storm”. I well and know the storm part, but the calm – felt distant and a bit foreign to me until now. I don’t know calm. It’s foreign. I want to DO things, not sit still. Not be stuck inside.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death
Your perfect love is casting out fear
And even when I’m caught in the middle of the storms of this life
I won’t turn back
I know you are nearAnd I will fear no evil
For my God is with me
And if my God is with me
Whom then shall I fear?
Whom then shall I fear?Oh no, You never let go
Through the calm and through the storm
Oh no, You never let go
In every high and every low
Oh no, You never let go
Lord, You never let go of meAnd I can see a light that is coming for the heart that holds on
A glorious light beyond all compare
And there will be an end to these troubles
But until that day comes
We’ll live to know You here on the earthYes, I can see a light that is coming for the heart that holds on
And there will be an end to these troubles
But until that day comes
Still I will praise You, still I will praise You
Thank you God for the reminder.
fatherhood
From Dynamic Dads (a book I recently finished reading):
Once we realize it’s impossible to be a perfect father, we can redirect our energies toward fathering effectively. However, in order to get there, we need to take a somewhat painful step. We must examine the specific areas in our fathering skills where we fall especially short.
AUTHORITY
- discipline – clear rules explained, child understands the violation, apply punishment calmly, restore & reinforce with love and acceptance [yeah... calmly isn't my strong point]
- share – democracy [yeah... I'm not that great at sharing either...]
- listen – everyone
- lead – with grace; not demanding; a servant leader of the family [and I'm a bit demanding...]
ENCOURAGE (these kind-of all blend together…)
- adoration – sincere verbal praise in their presence
- praise – recognition and attention
- encouragement – focus and praise strengths; compliment!
- acceptance – unconditional approval; affirmation!
APPLY (but don’t only think about yourself but the whole family!)
- identity – know who you are, where you came from and be it!
- community – authentic, open and encouraging group of other guys for support … like my G Men … I liked this paragraph in the book:
Real fellowship can and does occur when God’s grace guides a group by the power and direction of the Holy Spirit. Walls are broken down and true encouragement is given and received. If you’re hesitant to jump into a men’s small group, let me say that trying to live the Christian life alone simply doesn’t work. The heart cry of much of the New Testament is that we live in community. I urge you to become intentional about forming solid male friendships with like-minded Christ followers. Once you get a taste of true community, you’ll never go back to your old Lone Ranger days of living the Christian life in isolation…
Jesus Christ was the epitome of masculinity. He was caring, courageous, and kind. He fearlessly took on the phony religious leaders of His day and lovingly ministered to outcast women. He surrounded Himself with twelve men for fellowship and community. Jesus was no Lone Ranger. Are you?
- integrity – not perfection but wholeness; at peace. work in progress!
- ministry – gifts->purpose->energy->mission
FATHERING = main gift of service to God
… and most important! I can’t claim that putting it as ‘most important’ has really been my view; most certainly not if you looked at my involvement in a bunch of things. Here’s hoping there’s a change… well, maybe just ‘progress’ in some areas.
a change…
It’s been about a month and what has been made clear to me is that change is necessary in my life. Involvement in too much is a big one… involvement and concern for too many things that are important but do not have to be me that has to do it. My struggle is that I want to help others… sometimes (ha – I probably kid myself when I say that) more so than myself and my family. Sure I can rationalize and explain many different ways all of this, and all of the things I get myself involved into… but in the end, it’s not about me. It’s all about God and His paths. So maybe I’ve went down some of His paths, but maybe I don’t need to be the person who keeps going down it… maybe that’s for someone else to continue with. But that’s hard because I want it too much to be about me.
Mulligan!
From the Familyman’s weekly email:
How ‘bout a little Familyman history lesson? Once upon a time in the 1920’s, there was a Canadian named Dave—eh. Now Dave was a pretty successful guy who at one time managed the famed Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York City—eh.
Dave also liked to play golf—a lot. In fact, it’s reported that one time when he was playing in Montreal, he stepped to the tee in his colorful knickers and golfer’s cap.
All was quiet, as his world became—the ball. With a practice swing or two, his wooden driver flicked just a few inches from the ball on the tee. And then in one fluid movement, he drew the club back over his shoulder and swooSSHHHHH!!! Whackkkk!!!
No one knows for sure, but the ball either sliced, pulled, or went only about three inches to Dave’s consternation and the rest of his golfer buddies’ amusement. And then Dave did something that had never been done before in the game of golf.
In pompous pride, he excused the shot as a mistake and re-teed a new ball.
Back in the clubhouse, the members discussed Dave Mulligan’s unprecedented and highly controversial move.
The rest is history. From that point on, whenever a ball is reshot and non-scored, Dave gets the credit and we call it a Mulligan.
In fact, on October 17th we celebrate Mulligan Day.
And I was thinking—what a great concept. We dads and husbands could sure use a day like that—a day where if we’ve blown it big, we can take a mulligan and start over.
And it’s not just dads who need Mulligan Day. Everyone needs permission to take a mulligan. So if your son left your tools out in the rain—instead of chewing him out, give him a mulligan. If your wife overcharged the credit card, instead of blowing your top, give her a mulligan. If your daughter acted disrespectfully and deserves all the punishment you can heap upon her—give her a mulligan.
Say you’ve avoided family devotions for—years, take a mulligan and start again tonight. Been a lousy dad in the past or have treated your wife poorly? Take a mulligan.
Tomorrow is the day—a day of fresh starts for sons, daughters, wives, and DADS—a day that that was started 90 years ago by a golfing Canadian—eh.
So let me be the first to say, “Happy Mulligan Day!!!!”
I know I sure could use both receiving and giving of this one. BTW – I really suck at golf too.
